Packing apparatus for telescoping members



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F. L. LE BUS, SR

Filed May 27. 1960 PACKING APPARATUS FOR TELESCOPING MEMBERS April 13, 1965 1 a ATTOR/Vf'Y m United States Patent 3,178,205 PACKING APPARATUS FOR TELESCGPING MEMBERS Franklin L. Le Bus, Sn, Longview, Tex., assignor, by

mesne assignments, to Bowen Tools, Inc., a corporation of Texas Filed May 27, 1960, Ser. No. 32,466 1 Claim. (Cl. 285-146) This invention relates to improvements in well drilling apparatus, and more particularly, but not by way of limitation, to a packing means for packing off the telescopic members of a separable drill joint in a drill stem or fishing tool utilized in the drilling of a well bore.

In the drilling of well bores, and particularly in the drilling of deep bores, telescopic drill joints, such as slip joints or unlatching joints, are frequently interposed in the drill string or fishing tool for facilitating the drilling operation. The unlatching joint, or safety joint, is usually provided in the drill string for facilitating the disconnection of the upper portion of the drill string from the lower portion thereof when the bit or drill collar has become lodged in the well. The safety joint normally comprises a pair of tubular connecting members which may be uncoupled somewhat more easily than any of the other pipe joints in the drill stem, thus providing for a complete disconnection of the drill string at a predetermined location therein. The slip joint, however, normally precludes a complete separation of the drill string, but provides for the vertical raising of the upper portion thereof for the insertion of additional drill pipe sections at the surface of the well without moving the bit from the bottom of the bore.

It is the usual practice throughout the drilling operation to circulate a drilling fluid downwardly through the drill string and to the bit. It will be readily apparent that the fluid flowing through a separable drill joint may tend to flow outwardly over the inner tubular member and into the annular space in the bore therearound, and thus may not be directed completely through the drill string to the bit. As a result, a packing member is usually interposed between the separable tubular members to assure that the fluid will flow eficiently downwardly through the drill string. The packing means in widespread use today comprises a plurality of annular packing rings or glands disposed on the inner periphery of the upper or outer telescopic body and adapted to cooperate with an excessively elongated upwardly extending neck portion secured to the inner or lower tubular body. The elongated neck portion must be constructed or machined with a substantially high accuracy in order to assure an efficient sealing with the packing glands. This type of construction has been found undesirable in that the cost in both labor and material is excessively high, in addition to the fact that the packing members are frequently inefficient in operation.

The present invention contemplates a novel packing stem or packing head wherein an eihcient packing off is provided between the separable members or" substantially any telescopic drill joint in a drill string. The novel packing stern provides a simultaneous packing ofl of both the upper and lower, or inner and outer tubular members throughout any working position therebetween except for a disconnected position between the telescoping members. The novel packer is carried by the outer or upper tubular member and is provided with a sealing gasket therearound for efficiently precluding any flow of fluid therebetween. The lower end of the packer is adapted for insertion within the inner or lower tubular member and is provided with a sealing gasket for efficiently precluding leakage of the drilling fluid therebetween. The packer 3,l?8,25 Patented Apr. 13, 1955 "ice stem or head is disposed within the outer body whereby a floating action is provided therebetween upon a telescopic movement of the outer body with respect to the inner body for assuring a simultaneous sealing between the packer and both the outer body and inner body in all Working positions therebetween, except, as hereinbefore set forth, when the two separable members are in a disconnected relationship. The novel packing stem eliminates the necessity of an elongated, highly machined, upwardly extending neck portion on the inner or lower body, thus greatly reducing the cost thereof, and in addition, provides a more efficient sealing of the telescopic drill joint. The packing stem is simple and eflicient in operation and economical and durable in construction.

It is an important object of this invention to provide a novel packing apparatus adapted for efliciently packing off a separable drill joint for precluding leakage of drilling fluid at the joint.

It is another object of this invention to provide a novel packing stem adapted for utilization in a separable drill joint wherein there is a simultaneous packing oil at two points within the joint.

Another object of this invention is to provide a novel packing stem adapted for a floating action within a separable drill joint wherein a simultaneous packing off of both the inner and outer tubular members thereof is maintained throughout substantially any working position therebetween.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a novel floating packer stem adapted for utilization with a telescopic drill joint wherein the necessity of an excessively elongated male spline stem is eliminated.

A further object of this invention is to provide a novel floating packer stem for a telescopic drill joint which greatly reduces the cost of manufacture of the drill joint and increases the efficiency of the packing off of the joint.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a novel floating packer stem which is simple and efficient in operation and economical and durable in construction.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be evident from the following detailed description, read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which illustrate my invention.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a broken elevational View partly in section of a telescopic drill jointprovided with a packer apparatus embodying the invention, and depicting the drill joint in a disconnected or released position.

FIGURE 2 is a broken elevational view partly in section of a telescopic drill joint provided with a packer apparatus embodying the invention, and depicted in an engaged or driving position.

FlGURE 3 is an elevational view of a packer head embodying the invention.

eferring to the drawings in detail, reference character it refers in general to a suitable telescopic drill joint. For purposes of illustration, the drill joint 10 depicted herein is a safety joint or unlatching joint similar to that disclosed in my co-pending application Serial No. 818,687, filed June 8, 1959, and entitled Unlatching Joint Apparatus, and now Patent No. 3,097,001, but it is to be understood that the invention is not in any manner limited to this particular telescopic drill joint, but may be utilized with substantially any separable drilling or fishing tool.

The safety joint it comprises an outer tubular sleeve or drive body 12 adapted to be telescopically arranged with respect to an inner splined sleeve or mandrel 14. The outer sleeve 12 is threadedly secured at 16 to a drill pipe 18, or the like, and the splined sleeve 14 is provided with a lower threaded portion 2% for threaded connection with a second drill pipe (not shown) for interposing the unlatching joint in the drill stem. It will be apparent that the safety joint 10 may be interposed in a fishing tool (not shown),.ifdesired, and is not limited to utilization with a drill stem, v

The splined sleeve 14 comprises a body portion 22 having an upwardly extending reduced neck portion 24 provided thereon. A plurality of longitudinally extending grooves 26 are circumferentially spaced on the outer periphery of the reduced neck 24. The upper end of each groove 26 is closed by a pair of angularly disposed converging shoulders 28 and 30 and the lower end of each groove 26 is closed by a substantially horizontal shoulder 32. A plurality of longitudinally extending grooves 34 are interposed between the grooves 26 and are open at the upper end 36 thereof for a purpose as will be hereinafter set forth. Each of the grooves 34 is in communication with the pair of grooves 26 disposed on the opposite sides thereof. An angularly disposed circumferential groove 38 provides communication between the groove 26 and the groove 34 disposed to the left thereof, as viewed in FIG. 1, and a second circumferential groove 40 provides communication between the groove 26 and the groove 34 disposed to the right thereof. The upper end of the groove 38 is closed by an angularly or substantially l-shaped shoulder 42, and the lower end thereof is closed by a complementary angular shoulder 44. The

upper edge of the groove 40 is closed by a pair of angularly disposed converging shoulders 46 and 48, and the lower edge thereof is closed by an angularly disposed shoulder 50 and a complementary angular shoulder 52. A keyway plug 54 having angularly shaped opposed ends 56 and 58 complementary to the shoulders 42 and 44 is positioned in the groove 38 and is secured therein by a plurality of screws 60. It will be apparent that the plug 54 substantially fills the groove 38 and precludes communication between the groove 26 and the groove 34 disposed at the left thereof, as viewed in the drawings, whereby the grooves 26, 34 and 40 cooperate to provide a plurality of spaced substantially J-shaped grooves on the outer periphery of the neck 24, as is well known in the art. When the plug 54 is removed (not shown), the groove 38 is opened whereby the communication between the groove 26 and the groove 34 to theleft thereof is reestablished. This is preferred to the J-slot arrangement in many types of drilling operations, and as setforth in my previousy mentioned co-pending application Serial No. 818,687 and now Patent No. 3,097,001.

An elongated recess or latch pocket 41 is usually provided in the groove 40 which may receive a suitable latch member (not shown) frequently utilized in many operations of this type of unlatching joint. However, a plug member (not shown) may be inserted in the pocket 41, if desired, and secured therein by suitable screws (not shown) which cooperate with a plurality of spaced threaded bores 43 whereby the entire surface of the groove 40 will be smooth or flush for a purpose as will be hereinafter set forth.

A plurality of inwardly directed 'male lug members 62 are provided on the inner periphery of the outer sleeve 12 for cooperating with the J-slots on the mandrel 14 to latch the outer sleeve 12 to the inner sleeve 14. Upon a downward movement of the sleeve 12 with respect to the mandrel 14, the lugs 62 will enter the open ends 38 of the longitudinal grooves 34, as is well known in the art. The application of a right hand torque to the outer sleeve 12 combined with the downward movement thereof will move the lugs 62 through the grooves 40 and into the second longitudinal grooves 26. A continued downward movement of the sleeve 12 .will move the lugs 62 downwardly in the groove 26 and into abutment with the shoulder 32 thereof, thus providing a fully contracted or telescoped position (not shown) for the unlatching tool 10.

It is desirable to provide a locking mechanism for the tool 16 in order to retain the outer sleeve 12 and splined sleeve 14 in the fully telescoped position during the low ering of the tool in the well bore. The locking timeshanism depicted herein comprises a pair of complementary aligned T-shaped recesses 63 and 64 provided in the sleeve 12 and body 22, respectively, for receiving a sub stantially H-shaped snap bar 65 therein. The snap bar 65 is provided with a transversely extending, centrally disposed shear or rupture groove 66 which defines two half sections 67 and 68 for the snap bar 65. The half sections 67 and 68 are substantially T-shaped in corn figuration and are secured in the complementary recesses 63 and 64, respectively, by suitable screws 69. The snap bar 65 is depicted herein as broken of ruptured into the separate half sections 67 and 68. The snap bar 65 in the unbroken condition (not shown) securely retains the tool 10 in the fully telescoped or collapsed position. How-' ever, as the sleeve 12 is moved upwardly with respect to the splined sleeve 14, the snap bar 65 will readily break or rupture at the groove 65 to permit a separation or the tool 10, and each half section 67 and 68 will be securely retained within the respective groove 63 and 64.

A substantially short neck portion 70 is provided ort the upper end of the splined sleeve 14 above the J slotst A centrally disposed internal bore 72 eXtends longitudi-' nally through the mandrel 14 to provide for fluid circii-' lation therethrough. v An inwardly directed tapered shoul der 74 is provided in the bore 72 and spaced from the upper end 76 thereof, and the upper end 76 is beveled, as clearly shown in FIG. 1, for a purpose as will be here inafter set forth.

A central bore 78 extends longitudinally through the outer sleeve 12 to provide a fiuid passageway therethrough and is provided with an inwardlydirected annular shoul= der 8t spaced below the threaded portion 1.6. The beta 78 is of a reduced diameter at 82 above the shoulders!) for receiving a packing head, generally indicated at 84.- The packing head 84 comprises an enlarged head po'rtiofi 86 adapted to be inserted within the bore 82. A circiini 'ferential groove 87, preferably of a substantially dovetail cross sectional configuration, is provided on the outer periphery of the enlarged portion 86 for receiving a suit-' able packing ring or sealing gasket 83 therein. The seal= ing member 88 is in a sealing engagement with the bore 82' for precluding the leakage of fluid between the packing head 84 and the sleeve 12. v I

A reduced stem portion 89 extends downwar'dly froiri the enlarged portion 86 and is of a diameter sam le mentary to the diameter of the bore .72 provided in the mandrel 14. An annular groove 90, preferably of a dove tail cross sectional configuration, is provided on the outer periphery of the stem 89 for receiving a second sealing ring or gasket member 92 therein. The lower end 94 of the stem 89 is tapered or chamfered complementary to the configuration of the shoulder 74 in the bore 72, and the upper end of the enlarged portion 86 is provided with an annular shoulder for a purpose as will be hereinafter set forth. A central bore 98 extends longitu dinally through the packing head 84 to provide a fluid passageway therethrough. The sealing ring 92 cooperates with the inner periphery of the bore 72 for precluding leakage of fluid between the packing head 84 and the mandrel 14 in a manner as will be hereinafter set forth.

There is a certain amount of freedom of longitudinal movement of the packing head 84 with respect to the sleeve 12, thus providing a floating action for the packing head 84 during the operation of the tool 10. It will be readily apparent that the longitudinal movement of the packing head 84 within the bore 82 is limited in one direction by the shoulder and in the opposite direction by the lower end 1% of the drill pipe 13.

Operation Prior to interposing the unlatching tool 10 in the drill string, the packing head 84 is inserted in the bore 82 whereby the enlarged portion 36 will be disposed adjacent the shoulder 80. The sleeve 12 may then be threadedly secured to the drill pipe 18 in any well known manner and the mandrel 14 may be similarly secured to a lower drill pipe (not shown) for interposing the tool in the drill string. The outer sleeve 12 may be telescopically lowered over the inner mandrel 14 whereby the lugs 62 will enter the open ends 36 of the grooves 34. A continued downward movement of the sleeve 12 with a combined right hand rotation thereof will move the lugs 62 downwardly in the grooves 34, through the grooves 48, and into the grooves 26, whereby the lugs 62 will be brought into contact with the lower shoulder 32 of the grooves 26.

As the sleeve 12 is lowered over the mandrel 14, the packing head 84 will move downwardly therewith until the tapered shoulder 94 thereof engages the bore 72 of the mandrel 14. The tapered shoulder 76 will cooperate with the tapered shoulder 94 for facilitating the disposition of the stem 89 within the bore 72. There may be a tendency for the packing head 84 to remain stationary with the mandrel upon contact therewith, whereby the enlarged portion 86 will tend to ride in a floating action in the bore 82 as the sleeve 12 continues to move downwardly. When the sleeve 12 has been sufficiently lowered for the lower end 180 of the drill pipe 18 to contact the upper shoulder 96 of the packing head 84, the packing head will be moved downwardly simultaneously with the sleeve 12, thus inserting the stem 89 further into the bore 72. It will be apparent that the downward movement of the packing head 84 will be limited by the contact between the lower end 94 of the stem 89 and the tapered shoulder 74 of the bore 72. With the stem 89 inserted in the bore 72, the sealing ring 92 will be in a sealing engagement with the bore 72 for precluding leakage of fluid between the stem 89 and the mandrel 14. It will be apparent that a simultaneous packing oir of the sleeve 12 and the mandrel 14 is thus provided by the packing head 84 whereby the drilling fluid circulating downwardly through the drill string during the drilling operation will be directed longitudinally through the tool 10.

In order to lock the tool 10 in the fully telescoped or contracted position, the snap bar 65 is secured in the aligned complementary recesses 63 and 64 for spanning or bridging between the lowered sleeve 12 and the body 22 of the mandrel 14. In this locked position, the tool 10 is ready to be lowered in the well bore with the drill string, as is well known. When it becomes necessary to separate the tool 10 for any reason during the drilling operation, such as when the drill bit (not shown) hecomes stuck or lodged in the well bore, an upward pull on the drill pipe 18 will tend to move the sleeve 12 upwardly. The mandrel 14, being threadedly engaged with the lower stuck portions of the drill string, will remain stationary in the bore, and the snap bar 65 will readily rupture or break at the groove 66 whereby the sleeve 12 will be released therefrom and will move upwardly over the splined sleeve 14. The lugs 62 move upwardly in the grooves 26 into a position adjacent the shoulders 28 and 38 thereof, as shown in FIG. 2, thus retaining a driving connection between the sleeve 12 and mandrel 14, as is well known.

The packing head 84 will move upwardly simultaneously with the sleeve 12 through the contact between the shoulder 80 and the enlarged head portion 86. The stem 89 rides upwardly in the bore 72, with the sealing member 92 providing a continuous sealing or packing off of the mandrel 14 for precluding leakage of the drilling fluid thcrearound. It will be apparent from FIG. 2 that the stem 89 is particularly designed and constructed in order that a portion of the stem 89, including the sealing ring 92, will be disposed within the bore 72 with the sleeve 12 raised sufliciently for bringing the lugs 62 into contact with the shoulders 28 and 38 of the grooves 26, thus assuring a dual packing off of the sleeve 12 and mandrel 14 in substantially all working positions therebetween.

If it is desired to lower the sleeve 12 over the mandrel 14 for any reason to move the lugs into the lower end of the grooves 26, the packing head 84 will move downwardly with the sleeve 12 for moving the stem 89 into a further engagement with the bore 72. In the event that the packing head 84 tends to remain stationary with the mandrel 14 as the sleeve 12 is moved downwardly thereover, the enlarged portion 86 will ride in the bore 82 until the sleeve 12 is sufiiciently lowered to bring the lower end 100 of the drill pipe 18 into contact with the upper shoulder 96 of the enlarged portion 86. A further downward movement of the sleeve 12 will thus move the head 84 downwardly with respect to the mandrel 14 for providing a further engagement of the stem 89 with the bore 72. Thus, a dual packing off of the tool 10 is provided during both the telescopic upward and downward movement of the sleeve 12 with respect to the mandrel 14;

In the event it is desired to completely unlatch the drill joint 10, an upward pull on the sleeve 12 with a combined left hand torque will move the lugs 62 upwardly in the grooves 26, through the grooves 40, and upwardly through the grooves 34 and out the open end 36 thereof. The sleeve 12 is thus completely disconnected from the man drel 14, and may be removed from the bore with the upper portion of the drill string. The packing head 84 will move upwardly with the sleeve 12 through the contact between the shoulder and the enlarged portion 86 whereby the packing head may be removed from the bore simultaneously with the sleeve 12. The stem 89 will be completely withdrawn from the bore 72 substantially simultaneously with the disengagement of the lugs 62 from the grooves 34. When the sleeve 12 is replaced or again lowered into the bore for a re-engagement with the mandrel 14, the packing head 84 will be carried downwardly therewith, and will be inserted into the bore 72, as hereinbefore set forth, for restoring the dual packing 011 of the tool 18.

By way of summary, the packing head 84 provides a simultaneous sealing or packing off of the sleeve 12 and mandrel 14 in substantially any working position therebetwecn. The enlarged portion 86 functions in a floating action in the bore 82 for constantly maintaining a seal between the packing head 84 and the outer sleeve 12 while the stem 89 and the sealing ring 92 thereon provides a simultaneous seal between the packing head 84 and the mandrel 14 at all times except When the outer or upper sleeve is in a disengaged position with respect to the inner or lower mandrel. Furthermore, the novel packing head may be utilized for packing off an unlatching joint of substantially any type carried by either a drill string or a fishing tool, or the like.

From the foregoing, it will be apparent that the present invention provides a novel packing head apparatus for efiiciently sealing substantially any type of separable drill joint in order to preclude leakage of drilling fluid, or the like, therearound. The novel packing head provides a double sealing of the separable tool and a floating action in substantially any working position thereof, and eliminates the necessity of an excessively elongated, highly machined packing neck. The packing head apparatus is simple and efiicient in operation and economical and durable in construction.

Changes may be made in the combination and arrangement of parts as heretofore set forth in the specification and shown in the drawings, it being understood that any modification in the precise embodiment of the invention may be made within the scope of the following claim, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

I claim:

An unlatching joint for a drill stem and comprising an outer sleeve telescopically arranged with respect to an inner mandrel, spline means cooperating between the sleeve and mandrel to provide for telescopic movement therebetween, a fluid passageway extending through the sleeve and mandrel, locking means cooperating between the outer sleeve and inner mandrel for locking thereof in a fully contracted position therebetween, a packing head carried by the outer sleeve, said packing head comprising an enlarged portion slidably disposed within the outer sleeve, means cooperating between the outer sleeve and the enlarged portion for limiting the movement of the packing head in one direction, said drill stem cooperating with the enlarged portion for limiting the movement thereof in an opposite direction, a reduced stem portion provided on the packing head and sl-idably disposed within the inner mandrel, sealing means carried by the enlarged portion for a sealing engagement with the outer sleeve, sealing means carried by the stem portion for a,

simultaneous sealing engagement with the inner mandrel, and fluid passageway means extending through the paclo ing head.

23 References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 928,055 7/09 Johnson 285371 943,904 12/09 Struer 285302 1,796,611 3/31 Montgomery 285175 2,422,223 6/47 Church 285--347 2,572,895 10/51 Waggener 285-4 2,918,259 12/59 Le Bus 285-402 CARL W. TOMLIN, Primary Examiner.

EDWARD C. ALLEN, Examiner. 

